Arsenal will not rush to bring back Alexis Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez will not be risked for Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round clash with Sunderland on Saturday.

The forward is still recovering from a hamstring injury and has been pencilled in for a return at Stoke on January 17.

Manager Arsene Wenger could make changes for the visit of the Black Cats, with club captain Mikel Arteta pushing for a start having overcome a calf issue, while Jack Wilshere (leg), Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky (all knee) are missing.

Provisional squad: Cech, Ospina, Monreal, Gibbs, Koscielny, Gabriel, Mertesacker, Bellerin, Debuchy, Chambers, Ramsey, Flamini, Arteta, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Reine-Adelaide, Iwobi, Campbell, Walcott, Giroud.